Now recruiting: Finance & Risk Advisory Committee members, Summer 2010 Interns, and Guest bloggers.

Email: info@investorswithoutborders.net - we look forward to hearing from you!

Finance & Risk Advisory Committee: Apply to join one of IWB's volunteer credit and risk committees to help provide consulting to local financial institutions (FI) in developing markets. IWB builds committees of diverse finance and risk professionals and applies an "expert-sourcing" approach to our customized consulting - "best practices" and a broad range of perspectives is applied to the unique environment and challenges of each FI. 

Why? In this way, our customized reviews aim to produce recommendations and tools that create new approaches for improving services and access to capital for SMEs, which go beyond existing practices in both mature and developing markets to do more than apply old solutions to new problems.  IWB's aim is to have a tangible impact in areas such as increased number of SMEs served, new products developed, lower transactions costs for serving SMEs, etc.

Where? Currently, IWB is working with banks in Liberia and Ghana. New projects are in the pipeline and new regions will be explored! The committees work remotely across the globe, with opportunities for field work when the fit is right.

Who? From small business lending in Canada to Angel Investing in Africa, IWB seeks a wide range of functional and geographic expertise for our committees. 

How? Volunteers are provided an orientation to the banking and small business conditions of a given region, as well as conditions specific to the client FI, which was garnered through an IWB needs assessment. Each volunteer commits to participating in at least one evaluation iteration with an IWB client, which involves individual review and assessment as well as a group conference call. The full process for one iteration spans about one month. Email you interest to Randy Coutts, Finance Director: randy@investorswithoutborders.net

Summer 2010 Internships: IWB is offering PT and FT unpaid internship opportunities for the summer of 2010 for both graduate and undergraduate students. We wear a lot of hats at Investors Without Borders and, accordingly, offer a diverse range of "mix and match" internship opportunities that can include grant writing one day and helping a West African financial institution with their credit analysis the next.

The following list highlights our Summer 2010 project areas:

• Strategic Planning: We are packaging our consulting services and the tools we have developed. Project involves: market analysis, strategic positioning, messaging, and the development of marketing collaterals and sales strategy.
• Web design and development: It’s time to kick it up a notch and to share with the world the new work we have been doing. 
• We are looking to improve the design and functionality, update the site with content reflecting our recent work, and establish a system for ongoing updates. 
• Those interested in exclusively: design, development, or content creation are welcome to present your area of expertise and interest. 
• Marketing, branding, and communications: This overlaps with the strategic planning and web areas with a stronger focus on understanding potential clients and funders and developing tangible products, such as marketing collaterals, presentation packages, and awesome visual imagery.
• Grant writing, research, and fundraising: Inherent overlap with strategic planning, business plan development, and marketing functions. Focus is on identifying the best sources for financial support – either through traditional grants or creative means, such as making proposals to corporations for joint initiatives or corporate volunteerism projects. Grant and proposal writing, as well as networking, and potential outreach and presenting are involved.

IWB’s approach is to find the best individuals, who are the most inspired by our work and fit our culture, and to customize an internship based on your goals and our needs. To learn more or apply, please contact Tricia Chirumbole, MD, with your questions or your resume and statement of interest. We look forward to hearing from you!Whether you are interested in a discrete project, or you'd like to become one of our regulars that works on a team, we can assure that you will get an insider's view into the ever-changing world of SME/microfinance and socially responsible investing. (and you'll have fun!)

Email: Tricia Chirumbole, MD, info@investorswithoutborders.net - Please include your resume, brief statement of interest, and any questions!

Guest Bloggers: IWB supports fresh thinking on all the causes, trends, and beliefs that drive IWB: Market-driven social change, small business development, Socially Responsible Investing, Trends in Developing Markets, Diaspora-investing, and much more. Send your blog submissions to: info@investorswithoutborders.net and we’ll post all those aligned with the IWB culture.

Tell us your thoughts: Complete our Borrower survey, Lender survey, leave your thoughts on the website, and contact us directly with thoughts or questions: info@investorswithoutborders.net